Short desk breaks life enhancing

Meredith Peddie
Meredith Peddie
Office workers who get up regularly from their desks and walk briskly during short breaks are likely to live longer, healthier lives, as well as avoiding occupational overuse syndrome.

Such workers have long been advised to take regular computer screen breaks to avoid the overuse syndrome.

But new University of Otago research has just highlighted much greater benefits, including better heart health and reduced diabetes risk, arising from taking short activity breaks.

The Otago study noted that time spent sitting down was considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and death from all causes.

The research, involving 70 healthy Dunedin adults, found that taking a brief walk on a treadmill every half-hour to break up nine hours of sitting was much healthier than remaining seated throughout the working day.

Such short activity breaks were also healthier than walking continuously on the treadmill during a day otherwise spent almost entirely sitting down.

The regular, 1min 40sec walks were associated with lower levels of glucose (down 39%) and insulin (down 26%) in the blood after the meal-replacement drinks were given to study participants.

Long-term control of blood-glucose levels is associated with reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The trial, involving people of normal weight, adds to growing evidence that regular movement is needed for good health, as well as the Ministry of Health's recommendation of half-hour of moderate physical activity at least five days a week.

Dr Meredith Peddie, the study's first author, said in an interview individual office staff needed to ''come up with something that works for them'' to break long periods of sitting.

She suggested workers could avoid sending emails to staff who worked in the same building, and walk over to them and discuss matters face to face.

''They need to be aware that sitting down for long periods of time is not all that good for them.''

Dr Peddie holds a National Heart Foundation-funded postdoctoral fellowship in the Otago human nutrition department.

And the Otago study, published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was based on her recent Otago PhD research.

- john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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